The Voracious World Of Competitive Eating

1A

Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest has been hosted every summer on Coney Island since 1972. Competitors eat as many dogs as they can in 10 minutes, hoping to claim the "Mustard Belt" and a grand prize $10,000.
According to Nathan's, nearly 40,000 spectators flocked to Coney Island to watch this year's contest. Nielsen reports its annual television viewership at nearly a million people.
Competitive eaters train hard to be able to take part in these kinds of events.
We discuss the science behind competitive eating and our fascination with watching these kinds of competitions.
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